4 How To Successfully Keep A Dog Or Cat While Living In An Apartment

How To Successfully Keep A Dog Or Cat While Living In An Apartment - Living with a pet is one of the most rewarding things you can do. But while there are rewards in having a pet companion, there are also challenges. Having a pet and living in an apartment presents its own set of challenges. Not only do you need to take care of your pet's needs, you also need to be aware that you have both a contract with the apartment owner and part of one larger community of humans and animals.

• Informing Yourself about the Challenges of Apartment Pet Living

Choose your pet based on the challenges of apartment living. If you don't already have a pet, you should think carefully about the specific animal and/or breed before getting one.

Adopt a dog that is not very energetic, like an English bulldog. For a list of high and low energy dogs go to: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/apart.html.

Adopt a smaller dog that takes up less space, like a Chihuahua or a Shi Zhu.

Adopt a cat that has already lived in an apartment or a cat that you know would be better off not roaming around.

Consider the additional costs that some shared apartments charge pet owners. Many apartment communities charge pet owners a range of fees based on the size, breed, and type of their pet. Some of these fees can be steep, so consider them before you move in or get a new pet.

Rent a pet. This can range from $5-$10 per month to much more.

Pet fee. These are often one-off fees of several hundred euros.

An additional deposit. These may or may not be refunded.

Recognize that your dog or cat may damage or destroy something in the home and be prepared to pay for it. Oftentimes, even the most well-behaved dog or cat will wreak havoc in a home. While your security deposit or pet deposit could cover some of these costs, be prepared to settle the amount of money needed to make repairs to the home before you vacate.

Recognize the spatial challenges that living in an apartment will pose for owning a pet. Most dogs need plenty of space to run and play. Cats also need space to let off steam. Apartments naturally have limited space. Consider the following:

Your cat probably won't be able to roam freely outdoors.

You need to walk your dog before and after work instead of just letting him into your fenced yard.

Your future shared apartment may not have a lot of green space. Many dogs are picky about where they pee and poop. If your shared apartment doesn't have a lot of green space, chances are it's saturated with other dogs' urine and feces, and your dog might have trouble finding a spot.

Look for shared apartments that have one or more dog parks.

Think about how small things like walking your dog can add up to a big task. If you live in a house and want to walk your dog, you can just walk out the front door. For many people, living in an apartment is a much bigger challenge. Consider the following:

If you live on the second or third floor, walking the dog can become a major pain.

When you live at a higher level, it becomes very difficult to get your sick or injured pet to the car.

Taking dog waste bags, urine pads, or bedding to the trash can also become a big task.

Have your pet spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering solves several problems related to pet ownership. This is highly recommended for apartment living and pet owners in general.

For male cat owners, your cat may be less susceptible to spraying after spaying.

Neutering also eliminates problems associated with cats and dogs in heat.

Neutering male cats and dogs could make them less aggressive and reduce destructive behavior.

• Be part of a community

Be a considerate neighbor when it comes to noise. Similar to smells, noise travels easily in homes. You must consider your neighbors below, above and across shared walls. Think about the following:

Your dog might bark when you're not home and disturb your neighbors.

You and your dog can create a lot of noise when playing indoors. While in a single family home throwing a ball in the living room might not seem like a problem, in an apartment building the associated noise will certainly annoy your neighbors.

Any other noise potentially related to your pet and potentially disturbing your neighbors.

Deregister your pet with the landlord before you move in or bring a new pet home. Most shared apartments require that you inform them of the type and breed of pet before you move in. If you don't check this with your landlord, you could face fines, fees, or even eviction. Consider the following when acquiring a new pet or choosing a shared house:

Whether the municipality allows dogs or cats.

The size or weight limit of pets allowed in the community.

Community or even county or municipality breeding restrictions.

The number of pets your municipality allows.

Be prepared to provide your landlord with a veterinary reference and supporting documentation. Most shared apartments require a veterinary certificate and vaccination records. If your pet is not up to date on vaccinations, you need to take this into account and be prepared to have them vaccinated before moving in.

Make sure you are registered with a local vet who will have your full record to hand

Make sure you have vaccination documents on hand as most shared apartments will require them before approving your pet.

Make sure you have references from vets, neighbors, or previous landlords who will guarantee your pet is well cared for and well behaved.

Clean up your dog's debris. If you have a dog, you should buy bags and be prepared to pick up your dog's waste every time he poops. There are a number of reasons for this:

Respect your neighbors. You want your shared apartment to look and smell good.

Respect your neighbors and maintenance workers who don't want to step in dog poo.

If you don't pick up your dog waste, the apartment community may be fined.

Clean up after your cat. Shared apartments are unique in that you live in relatively close proximity to other people. Odors can often travel down hallways and from one apartment to another. Therefore, you should make sure to clean your litter box regularly to prevent your neighbors from living with your cat's smell.

Avoid letting your pet roam the neighborhood. The central feature of shared apartments is the common space. Because of this, you don't want to let your dog or cat roam free in your community. Keep your dog on a leash and your cat indoors (unless you want to keep him/her on a leash too). There are a number of reasons for this:

Some pet owners may not vaccinate their pets despite community encouragement. Leaving your pet running around makes them more susceptible to parasites and other diseases.

One of your neighbors might accidentally hit your pet with their car.

Your cat or dog could get into a fight with another cat or dog.

Socialize your dog or cat. Some dogs and/or cats are very nervous when meeting new people. You want to make sure your dog or cat isn't attacking or being overly aggressive towards neighbors or unsuspecting maintenance workers.

Consider enrolling your dog in an obedience school.

Teach your dog not to jump, growl, or bark at people on the street.

Although you shouldn't let your cat roam freely in the first place, if your cat tends to flee frequently, make sure she isn't being aggressive. This will help minimize potentially costly or harmful cat fights.

• Taking care of your pet's needs

Set up regular outdoor break times so your dog can go to the bathroom. One of the biggest challenges of living with dogs is the limited ability to go to the toilet. Therefore, you must carefully plan when your dog goes to the bathroom. Consider the following:

Your dog should be allowed to use the potty at least three times a day.

Consider having someone come to your house while you're at work to potty train your dog around lunchtime.

It's mean and unhealthy to make your dog pee and poop for long periods of time.

Create a nesting area for pets and/or an animal sanctuary. Section off an area of ​​your home for your pet's toys, food and water bowls, and beds. Confined to a small area, you should do your best to create an environment that is comfortable and stimulating for them.

Schedule regular times for your pet to exercise and release pent-up energy. All pets, even low-energy ones, need exercise. While you may be able to exercise your cat indoors by playing with her, your dog will likely need to spend significant time outside several times a week. Consider the following:

Plan long walks with your dog at least three times a week. Take 30 minutes to an hour to walk around the community or the surrounding area.

Find a dog park near you. This way you can let your dog off the leash and he/she can run around and play with other dogs. However, be careful and supervise your pet. They don't want a dog fight to break out.

Hire a dog walker or find a relative or friend to walk your dog if you don't have enough time. Many communities have dog walking services that will come to your home and walk your dog for a relatively small fee.

Keep clean waste all the time. Some first-time cat owners are dismayed to find that Garfield leaves them small "gifts" if their litters are not kept clean. If you don't clean your litter box, you'll feel like you're in a litter box. Check:

Make sure you have the right size litter box for your cat's breed.

Make sure you buy litter that is comfortable for your cat.

Set a schedule to change your litter box.

House train your dog. Obtain a suitable wire kennel or crate and work with your dog until he is completely trustworthy around the house. Diligence is a must; So until your dog is fully housebroken, don't let him run around the house unless you can be there any minute to watch him.

Keep your dog in the room with you with the doors closed until he is 100% potty trained.

Offer pee pads to puppies or older dogs who have trouble holding their urine.

Don't yell at your pet when they make a mess. Positive reinforcement is the best way to housetrain.

Brush your dog or cat often - outside. This loosens dead hair that's on the verge of shedding, removes dander and keeps your dog or cat's coat healthy and looking good. This also helps keep your home cleaner and smelling better.

Provide your pet with enough toys. Providing your pet with toys is an important part of keeping a happy pet in any environment. This not only benefits your pet directly, but you too. Toys will help keep your pet entertained during times when you may not be able to give your dog or cat much attention.

Chewing for a dog relieves nervousness and promotes good dental hygiene.

Cats like to scratch and sharpen their claws, scratching posts indirectly protect your furniture.

Providing a nylon bone or other safe chew toy is far superior to losing the knob on a kitchen cabinet.

Avoid feeding your pet human food. Feeding your pet food encourages begging and bad behavior and can also contribute to them making havoc around the house. Feed your pet good quality food on a set schedule.

Make regular visits to the vet and keep up with vaccinations. Keeping up to date on vaccinations is especially important as your pet will likely be exposed to other pets who could carry parasites or other contagions. Keeping your pet healthy also ensures that any messes they make are just mischief or lack of exercise and not an illness.

• Clean up and keep things tidy

Vacuum often. Cats and many dogs lose hair all the time. They also bring in dirt from the outside and produce other forms of dirt. In the small space of an apartment, this hair and dirt can quickly turn your home into an unfriendly environment. Frequent vacuuming, at least twice a week, will help keep your home clean and create a better environment for you and your pet, not to mention visitors.

Use a placemat under your pet's water and food bowls. Cats tend to pull their food out of the bowl and then chew it to the side, leaving dry or canned food all over the place. Some dogs do that too. Using a mat underneath will help keep your home cleaner.

Dust your home often. Pet hair and dander accumulates very quickly in small households with pets. Dust and dander can aggravate allergies and contribute to poor air quality in your home. Be sure to dust your home at least once a week.

Use rugs or floor mats at all entrances. Rugs and floor mats help reduce the mess and grime your pet brings after their daily walks. Rugs also help collect dander and hair, making your home easier to clean. Rugs, especially small ones, can easily be thrown in the wash.